In their own words, the single mothers in this landmark collection explore both the joys and the difficult realities of raising children alone. Overturning one-dimensional media images of women as either a welfare mother or a privileged Murphy Brown, the women in this anthology write eloquently about the complexity of their lives. They tell of the triumphs of surviving in a culture that offers little understanding or support, the concerns of raising a child without a father, and the thrill and challenge of recreating "family values" to reflect their own. Filled with words of compassion, struggle, humor and spirit, The Single Mother's Companion is a vital book that belongs on every single mother's shelf.